Beef products recalled over E. coli fears

By THE CANADIAN PRESSPublished March 21, 2012 - 3:25am Last Updated March 21, 2012 - 4:51am

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is urging the public to check all ground beef products in their freezers as a country-wide recall due to possible E. coli contamination affects a growing number of brands.

The agency says all the products — most of them frozen beef burgers — can be identified by the establishment number 761 and were produced between July 1, 2011 and Feb. 15, 2012.

"Our message to consumers is if you have these products in your freezers, do not consume them," CFIA food safety and recall specialist Garfield Balsom said Tuesday.

The recall, which was originally announced a number of weeks ago, now covers some 135 different beef products distributed under various brand names. They include President’s Choice, Best Value, Calgary Stampede, Country Morning Gold, Exclusive Selections, Grillhouse, Irresistibles, Keg, Licks and Maple Lodge Farms.

Balsom said the beef came from a Saskatoon hamburger plant operated by New Food Classics.

The recalled products may have a best before date from Jan. 1, 2012 up to and including Feb. 15, 2013 and a production code with a format of 11 JL 01 up to and including 12 FE 15.

A list of the recalled products can be found at the CFIA website inspection.gc.ca.